[KakaSaku] EPILOGUE UP! Kakashi tried to escape the hospital for the nth time. A neurosurgeon called Sakura unprofessional. Tsunade's solution? A D rank mission that will change Sakura and Kakashi's life altogether.

The sun
was high that noon, ready to provide everyone skin disease. It was mid-summer
and the heat was unbearable. Not even Konoha's shady trees were able to provide
refuge to those who were quickly deflating from dehydration. So when Sakura
appeared in front of Ino's doorstep, inviting her to grab some popsicles just
like old times, the blond agreed without a question.

Besides,
only crazy people decline ice cream in blistering weather like this.

They
stopped by Tenten's, dragging her along in their quest. The girl was reluctant
at first, but the thought of spending the whole afternoon with her best girl
friends; she joined them right after grabbing her sandals.

It was a
little difficult convincing Tenten to cross the Hyuuga compound. Even though
two months had already passed since the controversial wedding, Tenten still
could not bring herself to speak to Hinata or to Neji himself. So when the two
greeted them at their doorstep, Tenten shied away and look everywhere but her
ex-boyfriend. Sakura took pity and told Hinata what they were up to. Neji
didn't say anything and allowed his wife to be with her friends but only until
nightfall. If Neji was an over-protective cousin, he was definitely twice as
annoying and possessive as Hinata's husband.

It was
understandable that their little group had encountered mishaps and developed a
wound that would take years to heal. Sakura thought that even if the wound were
healed, it would still leave a scar that's visible and never forgotten.

By the time
they arrived at the ice-cream shop, the tension was slightly diminished,
because Sakura and Ino loved strawberry popsicles while Tenten and Hinata
preferred orange.

They found
their usual spot empty and so the four girls took refuge under the waiting shade.

"I'm
sorry,"

Hinata
looked up at Tenten, popsicle between her lips. "Hm?"

The
brunette chuckled, her eyes gazing distantly, "It wasn't your fault… it was
nobody's fault. I was being an ass about it… and I'm sorry." She knew there was
nothing they could do about it. Neji and Hinata were Hyuuga's and dedicated to
their clan. She did them wrong by pushing Hinata away and by blaming Neji for
breaking her heart. It was inevitable. And besides, even if Neji had pursued
their relationship, nothing good would have come from it. They could elope, but
both were too afraid to leave everything behind. The thought of doing such a
thing and spending the rest of her life with Neji, guilt-ridden was not her
idea of growing old happily.

Hinata
gently smiled and made a move to grab her best friend's hand and squeezed.

That was
enough to reassure Tenten that even though their friendship was not mended,
there was still a chance that everything will turn out fine.

"Thank
you."

"How's
your shoulder?"

Sakura balefully
glared at the blond sitting next to her. "You're asking now?" Of course they were talking about the catfight they had
months ago.

Ino rolled
her eyes heavenward, "Well, I can't really just drop by your apartment and ask
you, could I? You would have just snapped and tore my head off again." There
was no malice in her accusation but she was for sure telling the truth.

Smiling
inwardly that she was pushing the right buttons, Sakura muttered, "I'm not in
the mood." Her voice muffled by the ice cream in her mouth, partnered by a
dismissive wave of her hand.

Ino was
fuming. "You're getting on my nerves!"

"Good,"
Sakura stared at her strawberry popsicle in wonder, "At least we're not
fighting over Sasuke for once."

Ino didn't
say anything in return and the two shared a pregnant silence, eating their
melting treat. Silence means 'yes' after all.

"Heard
what happened…" Sakura opened the topic despite telling herself that she was
not opening anything involving Sasuke.

"I'm not a
slut. Someone has to slap that off his face." Ino vaguely said.

"Nah, just
tell me Shikamaru got you whipped and
being the possessive bum that he is, he doesn't like Sasuke hanging around."

"True."

Another
silence ensued.

"So…"
Sakura started casually, "How's he in
bed?"

Ino
chocked on her popsicle.

"Sasuke,
are you gonna eat that?" Naruto was drooling at Sasuke's untouched ramen.

"You can
have it." Sasuke pushed his meal towards the blond who took it without
hesitation.

Kiba
raised an eyebrow at the two. "You gave in that
easily?" It was only proper for Sasuke to taunt the blond until he begs on his
knees to finish Sasuke's unwanted ramen. It was casual entertainment that Kiba,
Chouji and Shikamaru enjoyed watching.

Sasuke
smirked and then reached out to ruffle Naruto's blond hair. "Tonight, he needs
the energy. Food makes him more vigorous." Insert a very disturbing slimy smile
that could make a brute man cringe.

Kiba and
Chouji's jaws dropped as they watched Sasuke actually act civil and
touchy-feely. Naruto in return ignored the intimate
gesture and blissfully finished his ramen.

"I don't
even want to ask." Kiba thought he was eternally scarred for the rest of his
life.

Shikamaru
knew letting those two sharing a tent last night was a bad idea.

"Sakura"
Kakashi just arrived from a mission and was now lounging lazily on the couch,
his arm draped around Sakura's shoulders as they watched another re-run.

Sakura
moved her head from its perch on Kakashi's shoulder and looked up. "What?"

"Be a doll
and get my latest Icha-Icha, will you?"

Sakura
frowned. Not that she was still high-strung over Kakashi's obsession of his
perverted novels, but because of a different cause. "You're actually going to
allow me to touch your collection? I thought it was sacred." Kakashi placed a
restraining order between Sakura and his collection after she threatened to
burn them all after a nasty fight they had a few days ago.

"Only on
special occasions." She didn't miss the suggestive wiggling of his eyebrows and
the glint in his eyes before jumping up and grabbing the thing that usually
spiced-up their love life.

Oh yes,
life was good.

..::FIN::..

(Seriously)

AN: After
reading your reviews, I thought that I should give the story a
justice and give it a proper ending. This chapter came out without
base plot or anything. I just kept on typing, letting my odd humor
control me. I hope you enjoyed reading it as I did writing it. And
I'm sorry if I offended anyone with the 'Sasuke-Naruto' part.
Haha! Didn't expect that, did you? Don't take it seriously, it's
only fiction. I just happen to be one of those outrageous girls who
are over-crazed with yaoi.

Now edited, thank you so much tootalltygerlily!!!

The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.